Fleischmann announces campaign staff

Efforts for Rep. Chuck Fleischmann's re-election campaign have been ongoing for months, but the freshman congressman took time Monday to formally announce organizations that will play a formative roll in distributing his message across the 3rd District in the months remaining before the Aug. 2 primary.

Fleischmann, who scored a narrow victory in the 2010 Republican primary, faces three GOP challengers this year—Scottie Mayfield, Weston Wamp and Ron Bhalla.

The congressman will look to a trio of firms and groups outside of Tennessee to help shape his campaign strategy—all of which have worked with him before. Wilson Perkins Opinion Research, a Washington, D.C.-based polling firm that provided data for Fleischmann in 2010, has been hired once more.

Fleischmann has also employed the services of Axiom Strategies, a Missouri-based political consulting firm, and The Strategy Group for Media, a political advertising company from Ohio. Both provided services for the congressman's previous election effort.

Jordan Powell, who has served as Fleischmann's spokesperson for both his 2010 candidacy and his current role as congressman, has been working as senior advisor for the campaign since February. Tyler Threadgill, who served as victory director for the Tennessee Republican Party in 2010, is Fleischmann's campaign manager.

In March, the Mayfield campaign announced it would enlist the services of a Washington, D.C., polling firm. Wamp has yet to formally announce any relationships with polling firms or political consultants.

Along with his Republican challengers, two Democrats, Dr. Mary Headrick and Bill Taylor, are vying for the 3rd District seat.